Although it has been more than seven years since Pep Guardiola last faced a Dutch club with Manchester City, the Netherlands as a footballing country has never left a special place in his heart. City host Feyenoord in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium this evening.

Manchester City last played in the Champions League against Feyenoord in the 2017/18 season. City met in the group stage of the old-style elite tournament and triumphed twice, with the game at the Etihad Stadium proving a particularly narrow victory (1-0).

For Guardiola, it always seems to be a real pleasure to talk about Dutch football, according to an interview with Ziggo Sport.

“Of course I have to talk about Johan Cruyff, everyone knows what influence he has on me. Then came Louis van Gaal, who also had a big influence.”

Guardiola grew up with Dutch football. “Dutch football had a big influence on me. I was a little boy when Cruyff was at Barcelona and I was a big fan of the 3-4-3 – of Rinus Michels, of Marco van Basten, of Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard. The legacy of Cruyff and Johan Neeskens from the 70s…”

There was nothing but praise from Guardiola’s side as he continued to view the home game with Feyenoord with the kindest of words.

“’I think the Dutch influence on modern football is enormous. We are all grateful for that.”

Guardiola himself is currently working with a Dutchman in his squad: Nathan Aké. He left Feyenoord’s youth academy in 2011 and, assuming he plays, will face his youth club for the first time in his senior career.

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield